Metaphor and meaning: Analysing metaphor use in the creative work of second language learners of English

This article explores the significance of metaphors in the creative work of second language learners of English. Metaphor, as viewed in this article, is not only a poetic device or a literary tool, but is recognised as a crucial part of our everyday thinking and meaning making. Essay writing is a ge...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Postma, Mariette
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: Stellenbosch University 2015-12-01
Series:Per Linguam : A Journal of Language Learning
Subjects:
Online Access:http://perlinguam.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/610
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author Postma, Mariette
author_facet Postma, Mariette
author_sort Postma, Mariette
collection DOAJ
description This article explores the significance of metaphors in the creative work of second language learners of English. Metaphor, as viewed in this article, is not only a poetic device or a literary tool, but is recognised as a crucial part of our everyday thinking and meaning making. Essay writing is a genre of discourse that lends itself to sharing thoughts and reflecting on life and important issues. Teaching and assessment practices in creative writing are studied against the background of the apparent difficulty learners experience with English as their second language. The article argues that recognition should be given to the particular ways in which learners are able to express themselves and to create meaning in a second language by means of metaphor. An analysis was undertaken of the metaphors created by learners in their second language as an expression of their life worlds. The implications for teaching and assessment of learners’ creative writing work suggest a move away from reading only for errors towards recognising learners’ ability to create meaning.
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spelling doaj.art-9c82ad69b8484db095355ad6821e8ab92022-12-22T03:28:38ZafrStellenbosch UniversityPer Linguam : A Journal of Language Learning0259-23122224-00122015-12-01313496410.5785/31-3-610Metaphor and meaning: Analysing metaphor use in the creative work of second language learners of EnglishPostma, Mariette0University of South AfricaThis article explores the significance of metaphors in the creative work of second language learners of English. Metaphor, as viewed in this article, is not only a poetic device or a literary tool, but is recognised as a crucial part of our everyday thinking and meaning making. Essay writing is a genre of discourse that lends itself to sharing thoughts and reflecting on life and important issues. Teaching and assessment practices in creative writing are studied against the background of the apparent difficulty learners experience with English as their second language. The article argues that recognition should be given to the particular ways in which learners are able to express themselves and to create meaning in a second language by means of metaphor. An analysis was undertaken of the metaphors created by learners in their second language as an expression of their life worlds. The implications for teaching and assessment of learners’ creative writing work suggest a move away from reading only for errors towards recognising learners’ ability to create meaning.http://perlinguam.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/610Metaphor analysiscreative writingsecond languageassessment
spellingShingle Postma, Mariette
Metaphor and meaning: Analysing metaphor use in the creative work of second language learners of English
Per Linguam : A Journal of Language Learning
Metaphor analysis
creative writing
second language
assessment
title Metaphor and meaning: Analysing metaphor use in the creative work of second language learners of English
title_full Metaphor and meaning: Analysing metaphor use in the creative work of second language learners of English
title_fullStr Metaphor and meaning: Analysing metaphor use in the creative work of second language learners of English
title_full_unstemmed Metaphor and meaning: Analysing metaphor use in the creative work of second language learners of English
title_short Metaphor and meaning: Analysing metaphor use in the creative work of second language learners of English
title_sort metaphor and meaning analysing metaphor use in the creative work of second language learners of english
topic Metaphor analysis
creative writing
second language
assessment
url http://perlinguam.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/610
work_keys_str_mv AT postmamariette metaphorandmeaninganalysingmetaphoruseinthecreativeworkofsecondlanguagelearnersofenglish